Fall 2011 - National Indian Child Welfare Association

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The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development Announces the 2011 “Native American 40 Under 40” MESA, AZ - August 15, 2011 - The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2011 Native American 40 Under 40, who were recognized as part of the 36th Annual Indian Progress in Business Awards Event (INPRO) on Thursday, September 8, 2011, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Eddie Sherman (Navajo), NICWA development manager, was honored with this very prestigious award this year. The Native American 40 Under 40 recognition was incorporated in 2009 as part of the National Center’s 40th Anniversary and highlights 40 existing and emerging American Indian leaders under 40 years of age who have demonstrated leadership, NICWA Development Manager Eddie Sherman initiative, and dedication to achieve impressive and significant contributions in their businesses, communities, and to Indian Country. INPRO is a multifaceted event, which also included the American Indian Business Opportunity Fair, an avenue where Indian businesses, corporations, tribal enterprises, and government agencies can network and have face-toface meetings. The INPRO 2011 awards banquet, presented by Raytheon, is the oldest and most prestigious Native American recognition event honoring Natives and businesses that support business development across Indian Country. Presentations were also made to the recipients of the Jay Silverheels Achievement Award, the First American Corporation Leadership Award, the First American Entrepreneurship Award, and the American Indian Fellowship in Business Student Scholarship Award. Corporate sponsors included Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, IBM, Northrop Grumman, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Be a part of an event 30 years in the making! NICWA’s 2012 Call for Presentations NICWA is currently accepting workshop proposals for the 30th Annual “Protecting Our Children” National American Indian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect. This is your opportunity to share your successes, lessons learned, community developments, findings, and more, from the work you are doing in your community. This year’s theme is: Protecting Our Children, Ensuring Our Legacy For 30 years, NICWA and our national, regional, and local partners have been advocating for and protecting the rights of Native children and communities. Our annual conference is our signature event, and this year we celebrate 30 years of partnership with Native programs and organizations and non-Native allies. Proposal Deadline: December 1, 2011 For proposal materials and instructions please visit: www.nicwa.org/callforpresentations To ensure the best services in Native communities and fulfill the promise of the IndianChildWelfare Act, grassroots community representatives, child welfare professionals, and tribal leaders must gather to share information, plan, support one another, and transform the systems and services that will meet the growing challenges facing Native communities. Join us in Scottsdale, Arizona, for NICWA’s 30th anniversary conference to protect our children, preserve our cultures, and ensure our legacy. 6

Operations Update June–October 2011 Summer/Fall2011 PERSONNEL New Staff Debra Clayton (St. Croix Chippewa) was a social work MSW student when she interned with us over the past year in the Community Development Department. After coming on board as a half-time employee in the role of child welfare leadership recruiter for the Leadership Academy for Middle Managers project, she has now joined the staff as a full-time community development specialist. Deb graduated cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in social work in 2009 and attended Portland State University in the Advanced Standing Master of Social Work Program in the administration and leadership track. She also worked for a year at the Native American Youth and Family Center here in Portland earlier in her career. We’re very glad to have Deb working with us. Kimberly Barber (Navajo) joined NICWA as project support in June and effective September 1 became our half-time fiscal support specialist. She will continue to do project support work half-time, as well. Kim is from Gallup, New Mexico, born to the Red Running into the Water Clan, born for Gray Streaked Ends Clan. Her maternal grandfather’s Clan is Salt, and her paternal grandfather’s Clan is Water Flows Together. She earned a bachelor’s of science degree in economics from Arizona State University and has a strong fiscal background. She worked as a financial and research analyst at Tallsalt Asset Management, as a lead teller in banking, as a claims representative in insurance, as a student worker with financial-aid and scholarships, and has years of customer service experience. Kim is an active member of the community and enjoys working with many organizations such as Native American Youth and Family Services, Native American Rehabilitation Association, American Indian Science and Engineering Society, Native American Business Organization, and United NationalIndian Tribal Youth Council. Rudy Soto (Shoshone-Bannock) came to NICWA in June as our youth peer support group facilitator, attached to the Logistical Tribal Technical Assistance contract. While serving as the coordinator of the United Indian Students in Higher Education at Portland State University, Rudy gained experience coordinating events, recruiting and retaining Native American students, and facilitating group communication. As a project assistant for a suicide prevention grant at the Native American Rehabilitation Association, he traveled to reservations for community meetings and engaged in dialogue and leadership development with community youth. In Washington, DC, as part of the Native American Political Leadership Program, Rudy received training in community organizing, which educated him on effective ways to reach out through modern technologies. His background, and these skills, have helped make Rudy a very effective youth group facilitator. Promotions Ashley Horne – We congratulate Ashley, who has been promoted to senior government affairs associate. Ashley has been doing outstanding work in the Government Affairs and Advocacy Department as well as the additional duties she has taken on with technical assistance for the Community Development Department. Well done! Fannie Black – Fannie has received a well-deserved promotion to director of operations and now manages the entire Operations Department. As well as supervising the support team and event manager, she now participates in the development and enforcement of organizational policies and procedures to maintain the positive health of the organization and ensures that staff have access to the necessary tools and resources to conduct their work at all times, including staff, computer network and database, physical plant, equipment, and supplies. Fannie came to NICWA in 2006 in a project support role and in only five years has become head of the department. Congratulations, Fannie! Tia Begay has recently been promoted to financial services coordinator and is working on her CPA degree, with an eye to filling more and more responsible roles in the Fiscal Department, which was recently reorganized. Tia moved from project support to the fiscal area in 2008 as fiscal specialist and has shown a strong capability and great dedication to her work and the organization. We look forward to more accomplishments in the future. (continued next page 7